Coagulation markers are laboratory tests that assess the blood's ability to clot, providing insights into the coagulation cascade's function and identifying potential bleeding or thrombotic disorders. They are crucial in clinical practice for diagnosing conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or monitoring anticoagulation therapy. A key example is the measurement of prothrombin time (PT), which can indicate liver dysfunction or vitamin K deficiency.
